YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Annually 500 people apply for the RepatArmenia Foundation. They are Armenians mainly from Syria, the USA, Lebanon, Russia and Iran.

Executive Director of the Foundation Vartan Marashlyan told a press conference in “Armenpress” that the majority of applicants are aged 25-30, they have received quality education.

“They are applying us on various issues such as the transfer of personal items, establishment of any business here, finding jobs, children’s education and etc. We have a network of repatriates comprised of 3800 people. And we are connecting the people who want to come to Armenia with those already here in order to help each other. We also assist those came to Armenia on finding jobs. A number of Armenian companies regularly ask us for qualified personnel, and we help the job seekers”, he said.

The RepatArmenia Foundation is regularly organizing visits with a group of repatriates to different countries, is holding forums in the Armenian communities. Vartan Marashlyan said it provides an opportunity for those thinking about repatriation to personally ask questions to those who have already transferred to Armenia.

“We face an issue of forming repatriation supporting environment. The state doesn’t have active repatriation policy. The Ministry of Diaspora has developed a respective bill, but it hasn’t been discussed in the Parliament. Today the issue of repatriation is not on the agenda of Diaspora organizations”, he said.

He said there is a need to change the perceptions about the Motherland. Those families who left Armenia during the difficult periods, now cannot imagine their children’s transfer to Armenia, whereas many things have changed in Armenia after those periods.

“The consciousness of perceiving Armenia as a center for Armenians is not at the highest level yet. In Armenia there is a problem as well. Here there is a very negative approach”, he said stating that Armenia needs opportunity creators, people with new ideas who will connect Armenia with the big world.